Masking article for producing precise paint lines and method of improving paint line performance of masking articles

ABSTRACT

An adhesive masking article for shielding a protected work surface from a coating applied to a surface adjacent the protected work surface includes a backing layer having first and second opposed major surfaces, and at least one edge, an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of the first and second backing layer opposed major surfaces, and a barrier inducing treatment on at least an edge surface of the masking article to contact the coating when the coating contacts the edge of the backing layer, thereby causing a barrier to form along the edge of the masking article that impedes the migration of the coating past the edge of the masking article beneath the masking article.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61177574, filed May 12, 2009, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to masking articles, such asmasking tape, and, more particularly, to a masking article that producesprecise paint lines.

When applying a surface coating, such as paint or stain, to a surface,care must be taken so that the paint does not get on the surfacesadjacent to the surface to be painted. This can be accomplished bycarefully painting the surface, or by masking off the area around thesurface to be painted. Masking articles, such as masking tapes andadhesive masking sheets, are often used to protect the area adjacent tothe surface being painted. When using such masking articles, it isgenerally desirable that the paint not bleed past the demarcation linedefined by the edge of the masking article. In this manner, the maskingarticle will produce a paint line between the painted surface andunpainted surface that is smooth and consistent, and precisely matchesthe line intended by the user. Depending on a number of factors, such ashow well such masking articles are applied to the surface, the energy ofthe surface, and the texture of the surface to which such maskingarticles are applied, paint may flow beyond the edge of the maskingarticle and under certain regions of the masking article, therebyproducing an imprecise paint line.

Adhesive tapes and masking materials having an edge coating forimproving the masking ability of the materials are known in the priorart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,008 (Gruber), for example, discloses anabsorbent edge coating for masking tape and other masking materials. Themasking tape comprises a substrate having a top surface, a bottomsurface, and at least one masking edge. The bottom surface of thesubstrate has an adhesive layer applied thereto. An absorbent edgecoating is applied to at least one masking edge of the substrate so asto at least substantially prevent liquids addressed to the at least onecoated masking edge from being absorbed into the substrate of the tapeand from passing between the bottom surface of the tape and a surface towhich the tape has been applied.

SUMMARY

Previous attempts to develop masking articles that impede the migrationof paint past the edge of the masking article suffer from a number ofdrawbacks and disadvantages. For example, known adhesive maskingarticles may include the use of ingredients that are difficult to applyto the masking article during the manufacturing process, may requireexpensive packaging to maintain their effectiveness, may be harmful ifingested, and/or may cause skin, eye and nose irritation, which mayrequire warnings and/or special handling instructions, or may produceunintended and undesirable effects at either the interface of themasking article and the paint, or on the surface to be painted.

More specifically, known masking articles may include superabsorbentpolymers (SAPs), such as sodium polyacrylate. Superabsorbent polymers,however, are difficult to integrate into existing tape manufacturingprocesses due, in part, to their insoluble particulate nature. Forexample, such superabsorbent polymers may be provided as dry powders,which require the use of special equipment to be applied to the maskingarticle during production, or they may be provided as liquids, whichmust be applied to the masking article and then subsequently dried in anadditional processing step to form a superabsorbent layer. Maskingarticles including superabsorbent polymers also require special andcostly packaging to protect the superabsorbent polymer from beingexposed to moisture, which interferes with the absorbency of thesuperabsorbant polymer and, therefore, interferes with the effectivenessof such materials. That is, if the masking article is not consistentlykept in its protective packaging, it may not work as well due toexposure to ambient humidity. SAPs may also be irritants. As a result,users of masking articles including SAPs must wash skin that is exposedto SAPs, and must be careful not to allow the material to get into theireyes or nose.

In addition, because of their absorbency, when masking articlesincluding superabsorbent polymers are used in paint maskingapplications, an undesirable raised region, or ridge, of paint is oftencreated along the edge of the masking article. This raised regiongenerally takes longer to dry, and is therefore more susceptible todamage prior to fully drying. In addition, loose or excess SAP may fallonto the surface to be painted. SAP on the surface to be painted may, inturn, interfere with the application of paint to the surface (i.e. itmay create an unsightly blotchy appearance in the paint).

The need exists for an adhesive masking article that addresses thelimitations in the field. More particularly, the need exists for anadhesive masking article for paint masking that is easy to make, doesnot require special packaging, is safe and easy to use, and producessharp, clean, precise, smooth, even paints lines. The terms “sharp”,“clean”, “precise”, “smooth” and “even”, when used to describe a paintline, generally refer to a paint line that corresponds to the edge ofthe masking article. That is, a sharp, clean, precise, smooth, or evenpaint line is one in which the paint does not extend significantlybeyond the edge of the masking article so as to penetrate under themasking article. Thus, when the masking article is laid down straight, a“sharp”, “clean”, “smooth”, or “even” paint line would be straight withminimal or no paint bleed under the article (i.e. little or no paintflow between the masking article and masked surface).

The need also exists for a masking article in roll form with improvedpaint line performance that does not adhere to or otherwise damagesurfaces upon which the roll may be placed. That is, the exposed outersurfaces of the tape roll, including both the tape backing and the sidesurfaces of the roll defined by the tape edges, should not damage anysurface that the roll of tape may be placed.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides an adhesive maskingarticle for shielding a protected work surface from a coating applied toa surface adjacent the protected work surface including a backing layerhaving first and second opposed major surfaces, and at least one edge,an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of the first andsecond backing layer opposed major surfaces, and a cationic barrierinducing treatment including a water soluble cationic compound presenton at least the edge of the masking article to contact the coating whenthe coating comes into contact with the edge of the backing layer.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides an adhesivemasking article for shielding a protected work surface from a coatingapplied to a surface adjacent the protected work surface including abacking layer having first and second opposed major surfaces, and atleast one edge, an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of thefirst and second backing layer opposed major surfaces, and apolycationic barrier inducing treatment present on at least the edge ofthe masking article to contact the coating when the coating comes intocontact with the edge of the backing layer.

In other aspects, the barrier inducing compound may have a solubility inwater of at least about 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, or 20 grams/100grams of deionized water at 23° C., the barrier inducing treatment maycomprise a cationic compound having at least one of 2 amine groups, ametal cation having a valency of at least 2, and a combination thereof,the cationic material may have an amine equivalent weight of at leastabout 40 g/equivalent, and no greater than about 1000 g/equivalent, thecationic compound may comprise a polyvalent metal cation, the barrierinducing compound may comprise at least one of a cationic polymer and acationic oligomer, and/or the cationic polymer may comprise an organicpolymer.

In other aspects, the polycationic barrier inducing treatment maycomprise a crosslinked organic polycationic polymer derived from vinylmonomers, the polycationic polymer may comprise at least one ofPolyquaternium-6 and Polyquaternium-37, the polycationic polymer maycomprise at least one of a polyquaternary amine polymer and apolyfunctional protonated primary, secondary, or tertiary amine, or acombination thereof, the polycationic polymer may comprise at least oneof poly(diallyldimethylammonium salt), protonated or quaternized homo-or copolymer of an amine functional acrylic monomer, and protonatedpolyethylene imine, and/or the amine functional acrylic monomer maycomprise at least one of acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, andmethacrylamides, the acrylic monomer may be selected fromdiallyldimethylammonium salt, methacryloyloxyalkyl trialkyl ammoniumsalt, acryloyloxyalkyl trialkyl ammonium salt, quaternizeddialkylaminoalkylacrylamidine salt, trialkylaminoalkyl acrylate andmethacrylate salts, dialkyldiallyl ammonium salts (e.g.dimethyldiallylammonium salts), acrylamidoalkyltrialkyl salts,methacrylamidoalkyltrialkyl salts, and alkyl imidazolinium salts.

In further aspects, the barrier inducing treatment may comprise aninorganic compound, the inorganic compound may comprise a polyvalentmetal compound, the polyvalent metal compound may comprise a metal salt,and/or the metal salt may comprise a soluble salt of aluminum, iron,zirconium, chromium, cobalt, titanium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper,manganese, strontium, yttrium, lanthanum, polyaluminum halide, basicaluminum nitrate, hydrolyzed aluminum, aluminum sulfate, zirconyl salts,titanyl salts, and combinations thereof.

In yet other aspects, the barrier inducing treatment may be provided ascoating on substantially only the edge of the backing layer, the coatingmay have a dry weight of at least about 0.15 mg/cm², the first majorsurface may be adhesive free and the barrier inducing treatment may beprovided as a coating on the first major surface, the barrier inducingtreatment may be provided in the adhesive, the barrier inducingtreatment may be provided as a coating on the adhesive, the barrierinducing treatment may further comprise a humectant, and/or the barrierinducing treatment further comprises a surfactant.

The humectant may comprise at least one of a polyhydroxy compound or asalt, the polyhydroxy compound may be selected from the group ofglycerol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, polypropylene glycol,ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, polyethyleneglycol, sorbitol, pantothenol, xylitol, mannitol, erythritol, sucrose,glucose, gluconic acid salts, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, cationicpolyhydroxy compounds, organic salts, inorganic salts, and combinationsthereof, and/or the humectant salt may be selected from at least one ofan organic compound salts having a molecular weight of less than about2000, and an inorganic salt.

In other aspects, the coating may be an aqueous suspension, and thebarrier inducing treatment may be present in an amount sufficient tocause the suspension to separate and become less uniform, the suspensionmay be a colloidal dispersion, and the barrier inducing treatment may bepresent in an amount sufficient to cause the colloidal dispersion toundergo coagulation, the colloidal dispersion may be anionicallystabilized, and the barrier inducing treatment may include an average ofat least two amine groups per molecule, and/or the coating may includecharge-stabilized colloidal particles, and the barrier inducingtreatment may have a charge opposite from the charge of the colloidalparticles.

In accordance with another aspect, the present disclosure provides, amethod of forming a smooth and precise boundary between a masked regionof a surface to be shielded from a coating, and an unmasked region of asurface to which the coating is applied, the method comprising the stepsof adhering the masking article described above to the masked region ofthe surface, applying the coating to the unmasked region of the surfaceand at least an edge portion of the masking article, allowing thecoating to at least partially dry, and removing the masking article fromthe surface.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a roll of maskingtape for use in conjunction with an aqueous based paint, the roll havingopposed side faces defined by corresponding side edges of the tape,wherein at least one of the side edges includes a barrier inducingtreatment, wherein the barrier inducing treatment induces separation ofthe aqueous based paint when the paint comes into contact with thebarrier inducing treatment, thereby mitigating the migration of thepaint beyond the edge of the masking tape when the tape is applied to asurface.

In other aspects, the barrier inducing treatment may include a watersoluble barrier inducing compound, the barrier inducing treatment maycationic, the barrier inducing treatment may be polycationic, barrierinducing treatment may causes a charge-stabilized uniformly dispersedmixture to become a less uniformly dispersed mixture, and/or thecharge-stabilized uniformly dispersed mixture may be an anionicallycharge-stabilized latex emulsion.

In a specific embodiment, the present disclosure provides a masking tapefor shielding a protected work surface from an anionic,charge-stabilized, colloidal dispersion, the tape including a crepepaper backing layer having first and second opposed major surfaces andat least one edge, pressure sensitive adhesive on the backing layersecond major surface, and cationic material on the edge of the backinglayer, wherein the cationic material comprises at least one of anorganic compound having an amine equivalent weight of at least about 40g/equivalent and no greater than about 1000 g/equivalent, and apolyvalent metal cation, and further wherein the cationic material has awater solubility of at least about 0.1 g/100 g water at 23° C., wherebywhen an anionic, charge-stabilized, colloidal dispersion comes intocontact with the water soluble cationic material, the anioniccharge-stabilized colloidal dispersion becomes less uniform, and therebycreates a barrier that impedes paint migration in the region between themasking tape and the protected work.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a barrierinducing treatment formulation for use in connection with a maskingarticle, comprising a cationic barrier inducing compound. In variousaspects, the barrier inducing treatment formulation may further comprisea humectant, and/or may further comprise a surfactant. In one aspect,the barrier inducing compound may comprise from about 25% to about 75%of the barrier inducing treatment total dry weight, the humectant maycomprise from about 25% to about 75% of the barrier inducing treatmenttotal dry weight, and the surfactant may comprise from about 0% to about10% of the barrier inducing treatment total dry weight. In anotheraspect, the barrier inducing compound may comprise from about 1% toabout 10% of the barrier inducing treatment total wet weight, thehumectant may comprise from about 1% to about 10% of the barrierinducing treatment total wet weight, and the surfactant may comprise nogreater than about 1% of the barrier inducing treatment total wetweight. In other, more specific aspects, the barrier inducing compoundmay comprise a water soluble cationic homopolymer, the humectant maycomprise glycerin, and/or the surfactant may comprise an ethoxylatedacetylenic diol.

In another aspects, the present disclosure provides a method ofimproving the paint line performance of a masking tape comprising thestep of providing a water soluble cationic material on the edge of themasking tape, a method of improving the paint line performance of amasking tape comprising the step of providing a polycationic material onthe edge of the masking tape, a method of improving the paint lineperformance of an adhesive masking article having an edge, and a methodcomprising the step of providing the edge of the masking article with awater soluble barrier inducing compound, wherein the edge of the treatedmasking article including the water soluble barrier inducing treatmentproduces a paint line that has a lower degree of variability around acenter line than the masking article produces prior to being treatedwith the barrier inducing treatment.

In other aspects, the water soluble barrier inducing treatment may becationic, and/or the step of providing the edge of the masking articlewith a water soluble barrier inducing treatment may comprise applying awater soluble cationic material to the edge of the masking material.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method ofimproving the paint line performance of an adhesive masking articlehaving an edge, the method comprising the step of providing the edge ofthe masking article with a polycationic barrier inducing treatment,wherein the edge of the masking article including the polycationicbarrier inducing treatment produces a paint line that has a lower degreeof variability around a center line than the masking article producesprior to being treated with the barrier inducing treatment. In other,more specific aspects, the polycationic barrier inducing treatment maybe may include a water soluble barrier inducing compound, and/or thestep of providing the edge of the masking article with a polycationicbarrier inducing treatment may comprise applying a polycationic materialto the edge of the masking material.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method ofshielding a protected work surface from a coating applied to a surfaceadjacent the protected work surface, the method comprising the steps ofapplying a masking article to the work surface to be protected whereinthe masking article comprises a backing layer having first and secondopposed major surfaces, and at least one edge; and an adhesive on atleast a portion of at least one of the first and second backing layeropposed major surfaces, and applying a coating to the work surfaceprotected by the masking article, wherein the coating comprises chargestabilized particles, wherein the masking article comprises a watersoluble barrier inducing treatment present on at least the edge of themasking article to contact the coating when the coating contacts theedge of the backing layer, wherein the barrier inducing treatment has acharge opposite that of the charge stabilized particles. In oneembodiment, the charge on the charge stabilized particles in the coatingmay be anionic, and the charge of the barrier inducing treatment may becationic.

In yet other aspects, the present disclosure provides a method offorming a roll of masking tape having a barrier inducing treatmentapplied to the edge of the tape for improving the paint line performanceof the tape, the method comprising the steps of coating a slitting bladewith a barrier inducing treatment, and slitting an untreated roll ofmasking tape with the slitting blade, thereby applying the barrierinducing treatment to the edges of the slit rolls of tape, a method offorming a roll of masking tape having a barrier inducing treatmentapplied to the edge of the tape for improving the paint line performanceof the tape, the method comprising the step of applying a liquidcomposition containing a barrier inducing treatment to at least one sideface of the finished roll of masking tape, and/or a method of forming aroll of masking tape having a barrier inducing treatment applied to theedge of the tape for improving the paint line performance of the tape,the method comprising the step of vapor depositing a compositioncomprising a barrier inducing treatment to at least one side face of theroll of masking tape. In other, more specific aspects, the step of vapordepositing may include the vapor phase deposition of a low molecularweight cationic material, the step of vapor depositing may include vaporphase deposition and polymerization of a cationic monomer, and/or thestep of vapor depositing includes nitrogen corona discharge treatment,thereby placing amines directly on the side surface of the tape roll.

Advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure includeproviding an adhesive masking article that is easy to manufacture, iseasy to use, does not require special packaging, does not involve theuse of harmful, hazardous, or toxic materials, has a reduced tendency totear, or sliver, upon removal, and produces sharp, clean, precise,smooth, even paint lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be further described with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roll of tape having improved paintline performance according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an edge portion of the tape shown in FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike or corresponding features throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-3show an adhesive masking article 2 in the form of a roll of tape 4 forprotecting a portion of a work surface 20 from a coating 30, such aspaint, that is applied to the work surface 20 adjacent to the protectedportion of the work surface 20, according to one embodiment of theinvention. In a specific end use application, the masking article 2 isused to protect the work surface 20 from a latex paint that is beingapplied to the work surface 20. As used herein, “latex paint” refers toa water based paint comprising polymeric binder and colorant, such asone or more pigments, as a dispersion in a polar aqueous continuousphase.

In the illustrated embodiment, the masking article 2 is in the form of aroll of tape 4, such as a roll of masking tape. It will be recognizedthat the masking article 2 may take the form of any conventional maskingarticle including, for example, rolls of masking tape, relatively largesheets of masking material, strips of masking material having anydesired length, and die cut masking articles having varied sizes andshapes designed for specific end use applications, any of which mayinclude adhesive or be non-adhesive.

The illustrated masking tape 2 includes a backing layer 6 having firstand second opposed major surfaces 6 a, 6 b, and first and second opposededges 6 c, 6 d. The masking tape 4 further includes a layer of adhesive8 on the second major surface 6 b of the backing layer 6.

The particular materials used for the tape backing layer 6 and theadhesive 8 are not critical, and may be selected from any of thematerials used in conventional tape constructions. Suitable materialsfor the backing layer 6 include, for example, paper including both flator smooth paper as well as textured paper such as crepe paper, naturalor synthetic polymer films, nonwovens made from natural and/or syntheticfibers and combinations thereof, fabric reinforced polymer films, fiberor yarn reinforced polymer films or nonwovens, and multiple layerlaminated constructions.

Adhesive 8 may be any suitable adhesive as is known in the art. Suitableadhesives include, for example, pressure-sensitive adhesives such asrubber-based adhesives, acrylic-based adhesives, silicone-basedadhesives, polyurethane adhesives, block copolymer adhesives, such asthose based on Kraton-type polymers formed from blocks of styrene,butadiene, isoprene, and the like, and combinations thereof.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives are recognized as a standard class ofmaterials. Pressure-sensitive adhesives are adhesives, which in dry(i.e. substantially solvent free except for residual solvent) form aretacky at room temperature (e.g., 15° C. to 25° C.) and firmly adhere toa variety of dissimilar surfaces upon mere contact without the need formore than manual pressure. Pressure-sensitive adhesives require noactivation by water, solvent or heat in order to exert a strong adhesiveholding force towards materials such as paper, cellophane, glass,plastic, wood and metals. Pressure-sensitive adhesives have asufficiently cohesive holding and elastic nature that, despite theiraggressive tackiness, they can be handled with the fingers and removedfrom smooth surfaces without leaving a substantial residue (see, e.g.,Test Methods for Pressure-Sensitive Tapes, 6th Ed., Pressure SensitiveTape Council, 1953). Pressure-sensitive adhesives and tapes are wellknown, and the wide range and balance of properties desired in suchadhesives has been well analyzed (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,374,883;and “Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives” in Treatise on Adhesion and AdhesivesVol. 2, “Materials,” R. I. Patrick, Ed., Marcel Dekker, Inc., N.Y.,1969). The various materials and compositions useful aspressure-sensitive adhesives are available commercially and arethoroughly discussed in the literature (see, e.g., Houwink and Salomon,Adhesion and Adhesives, Elsevier Publ. Co., Amsterdam, Netherlands,1967; Handbook of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Technology, Donates Satas,Ed., VanNostrand Reinhold Co., N.Y., 1982).

The adhesive 8 may be a continuous coating or may be pattern coated asdescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,798,201 and 5,290,615, the entire contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In accordance with a characterizing aspect of one embodiment of theinvention, the masking tape 4 includes a barrier inducing treatment 10on the edges 6 c, 6 d of the masking tape 4. Provided in this manner(i.e. provided along at least one of the edges 6 c, 6 d of the maskingtape 4), when a coating 30, such as paint, is applied to the worksurface 20 and comes into contact with an edge 6 c, 6 d of the tape 4adhered to the work surface 20, the coating 30 will also come intocontact with the barrier inducing treatment 10. The barrier inducingtreatment 10 may be provided in liquid form, solid form, or combinationsthereof.

In one aspect, the barrier inducing treatment 10 includes a compound,ingredient, material or agent that upon dissolution into the liquidcoating 30 from the edge 6 c, 6 d of the masking article 2 causes themigration of a liquid coating 30 beyond an edge 6 c, 6 d of the maskingarticle 2 to be impeded. That is, the barrier inducing compound servesto inhibit the flow of the liquid coating 30 under the masking article 2and onto the work surface 20 being protected from the coating 30 by themasking article 2. The barrier inducing compound may impede themigration of the liquid coating 30 by, for example, inducing aggregationof particles within the liquid coating 30 along an edge 6 c, 6 d of themasking article 2, or by increasing the viscosity of the liquid coating30, both of which mechanisms tend to form a barrier that impedes, orotherwise inhibits, the migration of the coating 30 beyond the edge ofthe masking article 2.

More specifically, in one aspect, the barrier inducing treatment 10 mayinclude a compound, ingredient, material or agent capable of causing afirst component of a mixture to combine with other such components,thereby forming larger associations. The term “mixture” as used hereingenerally refers to mixtures with uniformly dispersed components, stablemixtures, suspensions, emulsions, dispersions, and/or solutions. In aspecific example, the mixture may be a stable mixture with uniformlydispersed components, such as latex paint. In the case of a latex paint,the first component that combines to form larger associations may bepolymer dispersion particles. It is believed that by causing the polymerdispersion particles to combine, the barrier inducing compound causesthe latex paint to begin to increase in viscosity and/or to form aphysical barrier that impedes colloidal paint particles in the paintmixture from passing beyond the treated edge of the masking article.

In another aspect, the barrier inducing treatment may be capable ofcausing the first component of the mixture to be drawn together andthereby separate from the mixture (i.e. the barrier inducing treatmentcauses the mixture to stratify or become less uniform). The separationor stratification of the mixture is typically observable to the nakedeye. The first component of the mixture may be, for example, solid,semisolid, or liquid particles dispersed in a suspension (i.e. thesuspension may be a dispersion or an emulsion), such as an aqueoussuspension.

The mixture may be an anionically charged soluble polymer paint mixtureincluding dispersed inorganic pigment particles. In this case, the firstcomponent of the paint mixture may be, for example, a polymer thatcarries an anionic charge.

In a more specific aspect, the barrier inducing compound may be amaterial that upon contact with and dissolution into a suspension iscapable of causing solid, semisolid, or liquid particles dispersed in asuspension to combine to form larger particle associations, or groups ofparticles. In an even more specific aspect, the barrier inducingcompound causes the larger particle associations to combineirreversibly. That is, the combined particles will not return to theiruncombined (i.e. separated or dispersed) condition naturally over time,but rather require that some external stimulus be applied to the systemto cause the larger particle associations to return to their dispersed,separated, or dissociated, condition. Thus, in certain embodiments, thecombined particles cannot be re-dispersed homogenously even withsignificant input of dispersive energy. The process by which the barrierinducing compound causes particles to combine may be described generallyas one or more of the following: aggregation, coalescence,agglomeration, flocculation, coagulation and/or precipitation.

The ability of the barrier inducing treatment 10 to inhibit themigration of the coating 30 beyond an edge 6 c, 6 d of the maskingarticle 2 will depend, in part, on the nature of the particular coating30. The coating may be, for example, an aqueous suspension, in whichcase the barrier inducing treatment 10 will be present in an amountsufficient to induce aggregation or increase the viscosity of theaqueous suspension when the suspension comes into contact with thebarrier inducing treatment 10. The coating 30 may includecharge-stabilized colloidal particles. In this case, the barrierinducing treatment 10 will have a charge opposite from the charge of thecolloidal particles, thereby destabilizing the particles when thecoating comes into contact with the barrier inducing treatment 10.

More specifically, the coating 30 may comprise a colloidal dispersion inwhich the colloidal dispersion is anionically stabilized, such as is thecase with latex paint. In this case, in order for the barrier inducingtreatment 10 to be effective, it will have a net positive charge. Moreparticularly, if the colloidal dispersion is anionically stabilized, thebarrier inducing treatment 10 will generally include, on average, atleast two amine groups per molecule, and/or a metal cation having avalence of at least 2. The amine groups may be primary, secondary,tertiary or quaternary amines. Primary, secondary, and tertiary aminesmay be protonated so they carry a positive charge. Regardless of theparticular coating, it is desirable that the barrier inducing treatment10 be present in an amount sufficient to inhibit the migration of thecoating 30 past the edge 6 c, 6 d beyond the edge of the backing layer6.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by impeding themigration of the coating 30 beyond the edge 6 c, 6 d of the backinglayer 6, the barrier inducing treatment 10 serves to produce paint linesthat have a lower degree of variability around a center line than anedge 6 c, 6 d of the masking article 2 produces if it does not includethe barrier inducing treatment 10. That is, all other variable remainingconstant, an edge of a masking article provided with the barrierinducing treatment 10 will produce a paint line having a lower degree ofvariability around a center line than an edge not provided with thebarrier inducing treatment. The center line and degree of variabilitycan be determined using known statistical techniques such as the methodof least squares, linear regression, and analysis of variance.

In the illustrated embodiment, the barrier inducing treatment 10 may beprovided as a layer on the entire side surface 4 a of the roll of tape4. Depending on the effectiveness of the particular barrier inducingtreatment 10 used, it has been found that such a layer on the sidesurface 4 a of the roll of tape 4 may have a dry coating weight of atleast about 0.15 milligrams per square centimeter (mg/cm²), at leastabout 0.3 mg/cm², or at least about 0.5 mg/cm², and no greater thanabout 25 mg/cm², no greater than about 15 mg/cm², and no greater thanabout 8 mg/cm², and a wet coating weight of at least about 3 mg/cm², atleast about 6 mg/cm², or at least about 9 mg/cm², and no greater thanabout 450 mg/cm², no greater than about 225 mg/cm², and no greater thanabout 125 mg/cm².

While not wishing to be limited in any way, it is believed that thebarrier inducing treatment 10 upon contact and dissolution into a paintdispersion serves to disrupt the stability of the paint dispersion,thereby causing the particles in the paint that are in the vicinity ofthe barrier inducing treatment 10 along at the edge of the tape 4 tocombine (e.g. aggregate or agglomerate). It is believed that thecombining of the particles in the paint dispersion, in turn, causes abarrier to form between the edge of the tape 4 and the surface 20 towhich the tape 4 is adhered. The barrier blocks and seals the tape edge,thereby impeding paint, or components of the paint mixture, frompenetrating the tape edge 6 d/surface 20 interface. That is, it isbelieved that the barrier inducing treatment 10 causes the paint tobecome higher in viscosity and/or form a physical barrier along the edge6 c,6 d of the tape 4, and the higher viscosity and/or physical barrierserves to form a blocking region that inhibits paint (or at least thecolorant in the paint) from migrating beyond the edge 6 c,6 d of thetape 4 in the region between the tape 4 and the surface 20 (i.e. theblocking region impedes the flow of paint beneath the tape along thesurface 20).

In addition to producing smooth even paint lines, the barrier inducingtreatment 10 may also serve to alleviate the potential for tapeslivering when the tape 4 is removed from a work surface 20. Again notwishing to be limited in any way, it is believed that tape slivering isgenerally initiated at, and propagates from, points where paint haspenetrated under the tape at the adhesive/substrate interface. Byimpeding the penetration of paint in this manner, the likelihood of tapeslivering is reduced.

In one embodiment, the barrier inducing treatment 10 is water soluble.More specifically, the barrier inducing treatment 10 includes a barrierinducing compound, such as a polymer or metal ion, having a solubilityin water of at least about 0.1 grams/100 grams deionized water at 23°C., at least about 0.2 gram/100 grams of deionized water at 23° C., atleast about 0.5 gram/100 grams of deionized water at 23° C., at leastabout 1 gram/100 grams of deionized water at 23° C., at least about 2grams/100 grams of deionized water at 23° C., at least about 5 grams/100grams of deionized water at 23° C., at least about 10 grams/100 grams ofdeionized water at 23° C., and at least about 20 grams/100 grams ofdeionized water at 23° C., at a pH of 6, as measured according to thetest method set forth below. It has been found that barrier inducingtreatments including barrier inducing compounds having a solubility inwater of at least about 10% by weight, 15% by weight, and 20% by weightare desirable. In other embodiments, the barrier inducing treatmentcompound may be alcohol soluble, soluble in glycols, or soluble in otherhumectants that may be present in the edge coating composition.

The solubility of a dry barrier inducing compound may be determinedusing the following technique. First, the desired concentration of a drybarrier inducing compound is thoroughly mixed with pure deionized waterin either a sealed vessel, or round bottom flask with reflux condenser,at a temperature of at least 60° C. for at least 4 hours. The mixture isthen allowed to cool to 23-25° C. for at least 24 hours with mixing. Itwill be noted that for some polymers, the time and temperature may needto be adjusted to greater than 4 hours and/or greater than 60° C.,respectively, to ensure that true solubility has been achieved. Forexample, it may take significantly longer than 4 hours to ensuredissolution of higher molecular weight polymers. In addition, in thecase of higher molecular weight polymers, the step of mixing for atleast 24 hours at 23-25° C. may need to be carried out for as long as 48hours. On the other hand, if the compound exhibits a cloud point, then alower dissolution temperature should be chosen so that the solubility atroom temperature can be determined. In addition, care should be takennot to form a supersaturated solution. If it is important to know thesolubility limit of the barrier inducing compound, then excess compoundshould be added, i.e. there should be visible turbidity or visible solidphase after mixing. If, on the other hand, it is simply desired to knowif the barrier inducing compound is soluble at a specific value, forexample 10% by weight, then a sample is prepared at or slightly greaterthan 10% by weight. The initial barrier inducing compound of interestmust also be dry prior to mixing it with the deionized water to ensurethat the initial weight of compound is accurate. A 10 milliliter (ml)fraction of the solubilized mixture is then centrifuged in a 15 mlcentrifuge tube at 10,000×g for 30 minutes in order to settle anyundissolved fraction. Next, a sample of approximately 5 grams (g) isremoved and precisely weighed into a tared glass beaker. This should bedone on an analytical balance capable of accurately measuring to atleast 0.0002 g. The sample is then dried to a constant weight at asufficient temperature to thoroughly drive off the water and obtain thepure compound without degradation of the compound. If the compound issusceptible to breakdown, it can be dried by gently sweeping the samplewith dry nitrogen. A sample is considered dry when and the water hasevaporated and the sample has reached a constant weight. Drying may becarried out in a convection oven at 90° C. making sure that none of thesample is lost due to boiling/bumping etc. Several weights are thenmeasured and recorded to ensure the sample has reached a constantweight. The solubility of the barrier inducing compound is calculated bydividing the weight of pure compound by the initial sample weight andmultiplying by 100. Multiple samples may be run, as needed, to ensurethat the results are consistent and accurate. The same method may beused to determine the solubility of a dry barrier inducing treatment.

It is desirable that the barrier inducing treatment 10 be in thecationic form ready to be used in the masking article 2. Thus, it isdesirable that primary, secondary, and tertiary amines be at leastpartially protonated with an acid to adjust it to the proper pH.Desirable pH would typically be at least about 4, at least about 5, atleast about 6, and at least about 6.5, and no greater than about 9, nogreater than about 8, and no greater than about 7.5. Ideally, the pH isadjusted to ensure that at least 10% of the polycationic polymer aminesare protonated. This will be dependent on the basicity of the aminespresent, and can be easily determined by titration.

In one specific embodiment, the masking article 2 includes apolycationic material incorporated into the masking article 2 to contactthe coating 30 when the coating 30 contacts an edge 6 c, 6 d of thebacking layer 6. In another embodiment, the masking article 2 includes amaterial having an amine equivalent weight of at least about 40g/equivalent, and no greater than about 1000 g/equivalent, incorporatedinto the masking article 2 to contact the coating 30 when the coating 30contacts the edge 6 c, 6 d of the backing layer 6. Suitable polycationicmaterials have an amine equivalent weight of no greater than about 1000g/equivalent, no greater than about 500 g/equivalent, and no greaterthan about 350 g/equivalent.

For the purposes of this disclosure, the amine equivalent weight istaken as the average amine equivalent weight of the polymer normallydetermined by titration. For quaternary amines, this is the equivalentweight of the ionic form. For primary, secondary, and tertiary amines,this is the equivalent weight of the free amine form as would bedetermined, for example, by titration. By way of example, polyethyleneimine would have an amine equivalent weight of approximately 43 gpolymer/equivalent of amine, and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloridewould have an amine equivalent weight of 160.5 g polymer/equivalent ofamine.

In each of the embodiments described herein, the barrier inducingtreatment 10 is present on at least a portion of at least one of theopposed edges 6 c, 6 d of the backing layer 6. In the illustratedembodiment, the barrier inducing treatment 10 is a coating present as adiscrete layer along the edges 6 c, 6 d of the backing layer 6. Toproduce continuous paint lines that are sharp, clean, precise, smooth,and/or even, it is desirable that the barrier inducing treatment 10 bepresent continuously along both opposed edges 6 c, 6 d of the backinglayer 6.

The particular manner in which the barrier inducing treatment 10 isincorporated into the roll 4 is not critical, so long as the barrierinducing treatment 10 is provided along at least a portion of one orboth edges 6 c, 6 d, and is present in an amount sufficient to producethe desired function described herein. For example, the barrier inducingtreatment 10 may be incorporated into, or applied onto, the adhesivelayer 8, or incorporated into, or applied onto, the backing layer 6. Forexample, the backing layer 6 may be saturated with the barrier inducingtreatment 10, or the barrier inducing treatment 10 may be provided as alayer across the width of the first major surface 6 a of the backinglayer 6 such that the barrier inducing treatment 10 is present along oneor both of the edges 6 c,6 d of the backing layer 6, or the barrierinducing treatment 10 may be provided as a discrete layer alongsubstantially only the edges 6 c, 6 d of the backing layer 6, asillustrated.

The barrier inducing treatment may comprise cationic materials and/orpolycationic materials. Suitable cationic materials include polycationicsmall molecules, polycationic polymers or oligomers having at least 2,at least 4, and at least 6 cationic groups per molecule on average. Thepolycationic polymers or oligomers may be organic cationic polymers, aswell as polysiloxane and organopolysiloxane containing polycationicpolymers. The cationic polymers may be linear, branched, or crosslinked.Particularly suitable polycationic polymers include Polyquaternium-6 andPolyquaternium-37 series polymers. A suitable polycationic polymer is aPolyquaternium 6 series polymer available from Nalco Company,Naperville, Ill. under the trade designation Merquat. MerquatPolyquaternium-6 series polymers are highly charged water solublecationic homopolymers of diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride.

Polycationic polymers and oligomers may be based on synthetic or naturalbased polymers, such as polysaccharides and polymers derived from vinylmonomers. For example, cationic modified celluloses, guar gum, starch,proteins, and the like may be suitable. Certain polycationic materialsmay be surface active and capable of reducing the surface tension ofaqueous compositions significantly, e.g. to less than 45 dyne/cm at aconcentration of 0.5% by weight or less.

More specifically, suitable cationic polymers may comprise apolyquaternary amine polymer, a polyfunctional protonated primary,secondary, tertiary amine, and combinations thereof. Other suitablecationic polymers comprise at least one of poly(diallyldimethylammoniumsalt), protonated or quaternized homo- or copolymer of an aminefunctional acrylic monomer, and protonated polyethylene imine. Suitableamine functional acrylic monomers include acrylates, methacrylates,acrylamides and methacrylamides. More specific vinyl monomers include,for example, diallyldimethylammonium salt, methacryloyloxyalkyl trialkylammonium salt, acryloyloxyalkyl trialkyl ammonium salt, quaternizeddialkylaminoalkylacrylamidine salt, trialkylaminoalkyl acrylate andmethacrylate salts, dialkyldiallyl ammonium salts (e.g.dimethyldiallylammonium salts), acrylamidoalkyltrialkyl salts,methacrylamidoalkyltrialkyl salts, and alkyl imidazolinium salts.

In another embodiment, the barrier inducing treatment may comprise acationic saline. For example, protonated primary, secondary, tertiarysilanes, as well as quaternary silanes, may be applied to the edge ofthe masking article alone or in combination with non-ionic silanes toprovide an effective barrier inducing treatment. Examples of suitableaminoalkyl alkoxysilanes and aminoalkyl acyloxysilanes, which containsecondary amino groups, include N-phenylaminopropyl-trimethoxysilaneavailable as A-9669 from OSI Specialties, Sistersville, W. Va.,bis-(.gamma.-trimethoxysilylpropyl)amine available as A-1170 from OSISpecialties, N-cyclohexylaminopropyl-triethoxysilane,N-methylaminopropyl-trimethoxysilane,N-butylaminopropyl-trimethoxysilane,N-butylaminopropyl-triacyloxysilane,3-(N-ethyl)amino-2-methylpropyl-trimethoxysilane,4-(N-ethyl)amino-3,3-dimethylbutyl-trimethoxysilane and thecorresponding alkyl diethoxy, alkyl dimethoxy and alkyldiacyloxysilanes, such as3-(N-ethyl)amino-2-methylpropyl-methyldimethoxysilane.

Examples of suitable aminoalkyl alkoxysilanes and aminoalkylacyloxysilanes containing primary amino groups include3-aminopropyl-triacyloxysilane, 3-aminopropyl-methyldimethoxysilane;6-aminohexyl-tributoxysilane; 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane;3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane; 3-aminopropyl-methyldiethoxysilane;5-aminopentyl-trimethoxysilane; 5-aminopentyl-triethoxysilane;4-amino-3,3-dimethyl-butyl-trimethoxysilane; and3-aminopropyl-triisopropoxysilane. 3-amino-propyl-trimethoxysilane and3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane are particularly preferred.

Examples of suitable quaternary ammonium silanes includetrimethylaminopropyltrimethoxysilane salts,trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecylammonium chloride, and the like.

Such silanes will hydrolyze and condense to form cationic polysiloxaneoligomers, polymers and crosslinked networks. They may be applied assilanes, hydrolysis products, oligomers, or polymers. Such silanes maybe used in combination with cationic polymers and/or multivalent metals.

Counter ions of the cationic barrier inducing treatments may be any thatare suitable including, for example, halides, carboxylates, and thelike. Particularly suitable are those salts that promote solubility and,in particular, rapid hydration upon contact with the paint. Thus,suitable counter ions may comprise hydroxyl or other polar groups inaddition to the anionic portion to promote hydration.

Other useful cationic polymers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,908,619(Scholz) and 6,582,711 (Asmus, et. al.), the entire contents of whichare hereby incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, the barrier inducing treatment 10 may comprise aninorganic compound. Suitable inorganic compounds include, for example,polycationic (i.e. polyvalent) metal compounds. Suitable polyvalentmetal compounds may comprise a metal salt or compound that will dissolvein a solvent comprising water to generate a cation carrying a cationiccharge of at least two. The metal salt may comprise a soluble salt ofaluminum, iron, zirconium, chromium, cobalt, titanium, magnesium, zinc,calcium, copper, manganese, strontium, yttrium, lanthanum, polyaluminumhalide, basic aluminum nitrate, hydrolyzed aluminum, aluminum sulfate,zirconyl salts, titanyl salts, and combinations thereof. Suitable metalsalts typically have a solubility in water of at least about 0.1grams/100 grams of deionized water at 23° C., at least about 1 gram/100grams of deionized water at 23° C., and at least about 5 grams/100 gramsof deionized water at 23° C.

The barrier inducing treatment 10 may also include combinations oforganic materials, such as a cationic oligomer or polycationic polymer,and inorganic materials, such as a polyvalent metal cation.

The barrier inducing compound may comprise from at least about 1% by dryweight, at least about 5%, at least about 10%, or at least about 15%, tono greater than about 95% by dry weight, no greater than about 85% byweight, no greater about 75%, or no greater than about 65% of the driedbarrier inducing treatment formulation.

The barrier inducing treatment 10 may optionally include a humectant.Suitable humectants may comprise polyhydroxy and/or ionic groupcontaining compounds, or organic or inorganic salts separate anddistinct from any salt that may be present as part of the polycationiccompound(s) in the barrier inducing treatment 10. Suitable polyhydroxycompounds include, for example glycerol, propylene glycol, dipropyleneglycol, polypropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol,triethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, sorbitol, pantothenol, xylitol,mannitol, erythritol, sucrose, glucose, gluconic acid salts, pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, acetamide MEA, lactamide MEA, organic salts, inorganicsalts, and combinations thereof. Particularly suitable organic saltstypically have a molecular weight of less than about 2000. Examples ofsuitable organic salts include ColaMoist 200 (HydroxypropylBis-Hydroxyethyldimonium Chloride), and ColaMoist 300P(PolyQuaternium-71), available from Colonial Chemical, Inc. SouthPittsburg, Tenn., and Incromectant AQ-acetamidopropyl trimmoniumchloride, and Incromectant LQ-lactamidopropyl trimmonium chloride,available from Croda, Inc. Edison, N.J. Humectants may be present in thedried barrier inducing treatment composition from at least about 0% bydry weight, at least about 5%, or at least about 15%, to no greater thanabout 95% by dry weight, no greater than about 85% by weight, or nogreater than about 75%.

The barrier inducing treatment 10 may also optionally include asurfactant. As used herein, the term “surfactant” refers to anamphiphile (i.e. a molecule possessing both polar and nonpolar regionswhich are covalently bound) capable of reducing the surface tension ofwater and/or the interfacial tension between water and an immiscibleliquid. Suitable surfactants may be cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric.Combinations of surfactants may also be used, if desired.

Suitable surfactants may be selected from the group consisting ofpoloxamer (polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide block copolymers),cationic surfactants, zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.Cationic, amphoteric, and non-ionic surfactants and, in particular,ethylene oxide/propylene oxide surfactants, such as poloxamers, areparticularly suitable.

One or more surfactants may be included in the various barrier inducingtreatment compositions described herein at a suitable level to producethe desired result. In one embodiment, the surfactants are present in atotal amount of at least about 0.01 wt-%, at least about 0.05 wt-%, orat least about 0.075 wt-%, based on the total weight of the ready to usebarrier inducing treatment coating composition. In the dried compositionthe surfactant will represent about 0-30% by weight, or about 1-25% byweight of the dried coating of the barrier inducing treatment.

Exemplary cationic surfactants include, but are not limited to, salts ofoptionally polyoxyalkylenated primary, secondary, or tertiary fattyamines; quaternary ammonium salts such as tetraalkylammonium,alkylamidoalkyltrialkylammonium, trialkylbenzylammonium,trialkylhydroxyalkylammonium, or alkylpyridinium having compatibleanionic counter ions such as halides (preferably chlorides or bromides)or alkyl sulfates, such as methosulfate or ethosulfate, as well as otheranionic counter ions; imidazoline derivatives; amine oxides of acationic nature (e.g., at an acidic pH), and mixtures thereof.

In certain embodiments, useful cationic surfactants are selected fromthe group consisting of tetralkyl ammonium, trialkylbenzylammonium,alkyl amine oxides, and alkylpyridinium halides, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable amphoteric surfactants include those having tertiary aminegroups, which may be protonated, as well as quaternary amine containingzwitterionic surfactants. Specific examples of such amphotericsurfactants include ammonium carboxylate amphoterics, such as alkylbetaines, as well as ammonium sulfonate amphoteric surfactants which areoften referred to as “sultaines” or “sulfobetaines”.

Exemplary nonionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkylglucosides, alkyl polyglucosides, silicone copolyols, polyhydroxy fattyacid amides, sucrose esters, esters of fatty acids and polyhydricalcohols, fatty acid alkanolamides, ethoxylated fatty acids, ethoxylatedaliphatic acids, ethoxylated fatty alcohols (e.g., octyl phenoxypolyethoxyethanol available under the trade designation TRITON X-100 andnonyl phenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol available under the tradedesignation NONIDET P-40, both from Sigma Aldrich Corp, St. Louis, Mo.),ethoxylated and/or propoxylated aliphatic alcohols, such as thoseavailable under the trade designation Brij from ICI Americas, Chicago,Ill., ethoxylated glycerides, ethoxylated/propoxylated block copolymers,such as the Pluronic and Tetronic surfactants available from BASF,Chicago, Ill., ethoxylated cyclic ether adducts, ethoxylated amide andimidazoline adducts, ethoxylated amine adducts, ethoxylated mercaptanadducts, ethoxylated condensates with alkyl phenols, ethoxylatednitrogen-based hydrophobes, ethoxylated polyoxypropylenes, polymericsilicones, fluorinated surfactants, such as those available under thetrade designations FLUORAD-FS 300 from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn., andZONYL available from Dupont de Nemours Co., Wilmington, Del., andpolymerizable (reactive) surfactants, such as SAM 211 (alkylenepolyalkoxy sulfate) surfactant available under the trade designationMAZON from PPG Industries, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa. In certain embodiments,the nonionic surfactants useful in the compositions of the presentinvention are selected from the group consisting of Poloxamers, such asPLURONIC from BASF, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and mixtures thereof. Aparticularly suitable surfactant is Dynol 604 surfactant available fromAir Products and Chemicals, Inc. Allentown, Pa.

It will be understood that certain compounds in the barrier inducingtreatment formulation may serve more than one function. For example,certain compounds may serve as both a polycationic barrier inducingcompound and as a humectant, or as both a barrier inducing compound andas a surfactant. For the purposes of this disclosure, if a particularcompound is polycationic, it is considered to be part of the barrierinducing compound(s).

The barrier inducing treatment 10 may include other optional additivessuch as corrosion inhibitors, buffers, dyes, pigments, emulsifiers,antioxidants, viscosifiers (i.e. thickeners), additional solvents,plasticizers, and/or preservatives.

To use the masking article 2 to produce sharp, clean, smooth lines ofseparation between a masked region of a surface 20, which is shieldedfrom a coating, and an unmasked region of a surface to which the coating30 is applied, the masking article 2 is first adhered to the region ofthe surface 20 to be shielded from the coating 30. Next, the coating 30is applied to the unmasked region of the surface 20 and applied to atleast the edge of the masking article 2. The coating 30 is then allowedto at least partially dry. Last, the masking article 2 is removed fromthe surface 20. Because the barrier inducing treatment 10 inhibits themigration of the coating 30 beyond the edge 6 c, 6 d of the maskingarticle 2, a clear even line of demarcation is produced between thecoated region of the surface and the region shielded from the coating 30by the masking article 2.

An adhesive masking article 2 including a barrier inducing treatment 10according to one embodiment of the invention may be produced using avariety of techniques. For example, the barrier inducing treatment 10may be incorporated into the masking article via the adhesive 8, eitherby mixing the barrier inducing treatment 10 into the adhesive 8, or byapplying a coating of the barrier inducing treatment 10 to selectedsurfaces of the adhesive 8 using known coating techniques. The barrierinducing treatment 10 may also be incorporated into the masking article2 via the backing 6. This may include, for example, saturating theentire backing layer 6 with the barrier inducing treatment 10, orcoating selected portions of the backing layer 6 with the barrierinducing treatment 10 using known coating techniques. The selectedportions of the backing layer 6 may include one or both opposed majorsurfaces 6 a, 6 b, and/or one or both edges 6 c, 6 d.

According to a specific method, in which the masking article 2 is a rollof tape, the method of forming the roll of tape 4 having a barrierinducing treatment 10 applied to the edges 6 c, 6 d of the tape, therebyimproving the paint line performance of the tape, includes the stepsof: 1) coating a slitting blade with the barrier inducing treatment 10,and 2) slitting an untreated roll of masking tape with the slittingblade, thereby transferring the barrier inducing treatment 10 to the cutedges of the roll of tape 4 during the slitting of the tape roll.

According to another method, a liquid composition containing a barrierinducing treatment is applied to at least one side face of the finishedroll of masking tape. This may be accomplished using a number oftechniques including roll coating, pad coating, spraying, and vapordepositing a composition comprising a barrier inducing treatment on atleast one side surface of the roll of masking tape. Vapor deposition mayinclude the vapor phase deposition of a low molecular weight cationicmaterial, the vapor phase deposition and polymerization of a cationicmonomer, or ammonia plasma treatment that place amines directly on theside surface of the tape roll. The barrier inducing treatment may alsobe applied manually to the sides of a finished roll of tape using, forexample, a sponge or other suitable applicator.

According to another method, a liquid barrier inducing treatmentcomposition may be applied to the edge of the masking article, such asthe side face of a finished roll of masking tape, immediately prior touse. For example, the liquid barrier inducing treatment composition maybe applied via a liquid impregnated applicator pad. In this embodiment,a kit including at least a roll of masking tape and a barrier inducingtreatment composition may be supplied. Alternatively still, the liquidbarrier inducing treatment composition may be sold separately (i.e.separate from the masking article), whereby an end user can apply thecomposition to at least one edge of a masking article prior to use.

In order that the invention described herein can be more fullyunderstood, the following examples are set forth. It should beunderstood that these examples are for illustrative purposes only, andare not to be construed as limiting this invention in any manner.

EXAMPLES

Unless otherwise noted, all parts, percentages, ratios, etc. in theExamples and the rest of the specification are by weight.

Materials

LUPASOL P is a low viscosity, high molecular weight (average 750,000 MW)ethylenimine polymer (supplied as a 50% aqueous solution) havingprimary, secondary, and tertiary amine groups and a very high cationiccharge once protonated, available from BASF Corporation, Florham Park,N.J.

LUPASOL WF is a medium molecular weight (average 25,000 MW) ethyleniminepolymer having primary, secondary, and tertiary amine groups and acationic charge once protonated, available from BASF Corporation,Florham Park, N.J.

Polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride is a polyquaternium polymeravailable from Sigma Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis. Three molecular weightswere used: “low MW” which has a reported MW of 100,000-200,000; “mediumMW” which has a reported MW of 200,000-350,000; and “high MW” which hasa reported MW of 400,000-500,000.

DIAFORMER Z-731 is a poly(amine oxide acrylate copolymer), (supplied as40% active material in a 50% ethanol/10% water solvent system),available from Clariant Corporation, Mt. Holly, N.C. At lower pH thispolymer behaves as a polycationic polymer.

COSMOCIL CQ is a poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (suppliedas a 20% aqueous solution), available from Arch Chemicals, Inc.,Norwalk, Conn.

N-[3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine is available from SigmaAldrich (Product No. 104884), Milwaukee, Wis.

DYNOL 604 is a nonionic surfactant available from Air Products,Allentown, Pa.

Sorbitol is available from Sigma Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Glycerin/glycerol is available from Sigma Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Aluminum Chlorohydrate is available from Sigma Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Aluminum Chloride is available from Sigma Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Calcium Carbonate is available from Sigma Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis.

Paint Line Performance Test Method Preparation of Glass Panels:

The non-Sn (non-Tin) side of a new 8 inch by 12 inch glass panel wasidentified using a black light. The non-Sn side of the glass panel wasthen cleaned with one wipe each of diacetone alcohol, heptane, andethanol (in the stated order).

Tape Application and Paint Line Testing:

An 8 inch long strip of the treated tape was gently applied by hand tothe glass panel. A 4.5 pound calibrated rubber roller was centeredhorizontally relative to the width of the tape and the roller was passedlengthwise back and forth by hand two times, for a total of fourindividual passes over the tape at a rate of approximately 12 inches perminute for a total of four passes. Within 15 minutes of applying thetape sample to the panel, a paint brush was used to apply paint over theglass panel and the treated tape. The painted test panels were thenallowed to dry at room temperature. The paint used for the test was SunProof Exterior House & Trim Semi-Gloss Latex 100% Acrylic black paint(#78-851, available from Pittsburgh Paints, PPG Industries, Pittsburgh,Pa.). Three replicates of each tape sample were tested. Approximately 15feet of tape was removed from the tape roll between each test sample.For comparison, glass panels with control tapes having no edge treatmentwere also prepared. After the paint was completely dry, the paint lineperformance for the tapes was evaluated by visually examining the paintlines on the glass relative to the control tapes having no edgetreatment. The results were rated as “No Improvement”, “Improvement” or“Significant Improvement” as indicated in the Table.

Barrier Inducing Treatment and Application Procedures

The barrier inducing treatment compositions that were evaluated areprovided in the Table. The barrier inducing treatments were applied tothe edge or side surface of a finished roll of tape (SCOTCH—BLUEPAINTER'S TAPE #2090, available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn.) eitheras an aqueous based solution, as an aqueous based heterogeneous mixture(i.e. not dissolved, and needed to be shaken in order to apply to tapesurface), or as 100% solids using the procedures described in thefollowing Examples. If there was a pH adjustment for any of the Examplesit is indicated in the Table.

Examples 1-4 and 8-26

A barrier inducing treatment solution was applied to the tape roll edge(i.e. to the side surface) using a sponge applicator, ensuring that thebarrier inducing treatment was applied to the entire side of the taperoll. The treated tape roll was then dried in an oven at 150° F. for 15minutes (coated side facing upwards) and was allowed to cool to roomtemperature. The barrier inducing treatment solution was then applied tothe edge (i.e. to the side surface) on the opposite side of the taperoll using a sponge applicator, ensuring that the material was appliedto the entire side of the tape roll. The treated tape roll was thendried in an oven at 150° F. for 15 minutes (second coated side facingupwards). The treated tape roll was then allowed to cool to roomtemperature prior to testing for paint line performance as describedabove. Results are provided in the Table.

Examples 5-7

A barrier inducing treatment solution was syringe applied and rubberapplicator leveled onto one side of the tape roll edge or side surfaceat 1 ml (1 gram) loadings. The treated tape roll was then allowed to airdry at room temperature for 4 hours (Example 5) or 24 hours (Example 6)prior to testing for paint line performance as described above.

Example 27

The tape rolls were warmed in an oven at 150° F. for 5 minutes. The taperoll edge or side surface was pressed into the barrier inducingtreatment powder, ensuring that the powder was applied to the entireside surface of the tape roll. The excess powder was then brushed off ofthe tape roll edge/side surface using a dry brush. This procedure wasrepeated to coat the edge/side surface on the opposite side of the taperoll. The samples were then tested for paint line performance asdescribed above. Results are provided in the Table.

Comparative Examples C1 and C2

Comparative Examples C1 and C2 were prepared in manner similar to thetape rolls that were solution coated as described above except that thetreatment was applied as a heterogeneous mixture (i.e. the calciumcarbonate was not dissolved, and the mixture needed to be shaken inorder to apply it to the edge or side surface of the tape roll.)

TABLE Paint Line Performance Barrier Inducing Treatment Application NoSignificant Example Composition pH Method Improvement ImprovementImprovement 1 5% LUPASOL P, 5% Glycerin, 6.9¹ Solution X remainder Water2 5% LUPASOL WP, 5% Glycerin, 6.9¹ Solution X remainder Water 3 5%LUPASOL P, remainder 6.7² Solution X Water 4 5% LUPASOL WP, remainder6.7² Solution X Water 5 15% COSMOCIL CQ, 0.1% Solution X DYNOL 604Surfactant, 84.9% Water 6 25% COSMOCIL CQ, 5% Solution X Glycerin, 0.1%DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 69.9% Water 7 4% N-[3- 4.9² Solution X(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine, 4.8% Water, 91.2% Ethanol 812.5% DIAFORMER Z-731, 10% 2.0³ Solution X Isopropanol, 77.5% Water 912.5% DIAFORMER Z-731, 2.0³ Solution X 0.25% DYNOL 604 Surfactant,87.25% Water 10 12.5% DIAFORMER Z-731, 10% 2.0³ Solution X Isopropanol,77.5% Water 11 12.5% DIAFORMER Z-731, 2.0³ Solution X 0.25% DYNOL 604Surfactant, 87.25% Water 12 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution Xchloride, remainder Water 13 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution Xchloride, 5% Glycerin, remainder Water 14 5% PolydiallyldimethylammoniumSolution X chloride (low MW), 5% Glycerol, 10% Isopropanol, 80% Water 155% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (low MW), 5%Glycerol, 0.25% DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 89.75% Water 16 5%Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (low MW), 7% Sorbitol,10% Isopropanol, 78% Water 17 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution Xchloride (low MW), 7% Sorbitol, 0.25% DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 87.75% Water18 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (medium MW), 5%Glycerol, 10% Isopropanol, 80% Water 19 5% PolydiallyldimethylammoniumSolution X chloride (medium MW), 5% Glycerol, 0.25% DYNOL 604Surfactant, 89.75% Water 20 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution Xchloride (medium MW), 7% Sorbitol, 10% Isopropanol, 78% Water 21 5%Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (medium MW), 7%Sorbitol, 0.25% DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 87.75% Water 22 5%Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (high MW), 5% Glycerol,10% Isopropanol, 80% Water 23 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution Xchloride (high MW), 5% Glycerol, 0.25% DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 89.75%Water 24 5% Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (high MW),7% Sorbitol, 10% Isopropanol, 78% Water 25 5%Polydiallyldimethylammonium Solution X chloride (high MW), 7% Sorbitol,0.25% DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 87.75% Water 26 Aluminum chlorohydrate 100%Solids X 27 8.63% Aluminum Chloride (19% 4.4⁴ Solution X solids), 4%Glycerin, 0.1% DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 87.3% Water C1 5% CalciumCarbonate, 10% Mixture X Isopropanol, 85% Water C2 5% Calcium Carbonate,0.25% Mixture X DYNOL 604 Surfactant, 94.75% Water ¹pH was adjusted withhydrochloric acid (HCl) ²pH was adjusted with lactic acid ³pH wasadjusted with sulfuric acid ⁴pH was adjusted with acetic acid Note: Theweight percents indicated in the Table are those of the material assupplied by the vendor. For example, in Example 8, the DIAFORMER Z-731is supplied as a 40% solids solution, so 12.5% at 40% solids would be a5% of the polymeric amine oxide.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that various changesand modifications may be made to the invention described above withoutdeviating from the inventive concept. Thus, the scope of the presentinvention should not be limited to the structures described in thisapplication, but only by the structures described by the language of theclaims and the equivalents of those structures.

1. An adhesive masking article for shielding a protected work surface from a coating applied to a surface adjacent the protected work surface, the masking article comprising: (a) a backing layer having first and second opposed major surfaces, and at least one edge; (b) an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of the first and second backing layer opposed major surfaces; and (c) a water soluble cationic barrier inducing compound present on at least the edge of the masking article to contact the coating when the coating comes into contact with the edge of the backing layer.
 2. A masking article as defined in claim 1, wherein the barrier inducing compound has a solubility in water of at least about 0.1 grams/100 grams of deionized water at 23° C.
 3. A masking article as defined in claim 1, wherein the barrier inducing compound comprises a cationic material comprising a compound having at least one of 2 amine groups, a metal cation having a valency of at least 2, and a combination thereof.
 4. A masking article as defined in claim 3, wherein the cationic material has an amine equivalent weight of at least about 40 g/equivalent, and no greater than about 1000 g/equivalent.
 5. A masking article as defined in claim 3, wherein the cationic material comprises a polyvalent metal cation.
 6. A masking article as defined in claim 1, wherein the barrier inducing compound comprises an organic compound.
 7. A masking article as defined in claim 1, wherein the barrier inducing compound comprises at least one of a cationic polymer and a cationic oligomer.
 8. A masking article as defined in claim 7, wherein the cationic polymer comprises an organic polymer.
 9. A masking article as defined in claim 1, wherein the barrier inducing treatment comprises an inorganic compound.
 10. A masking article as defined in claim 9, wherein the inorganic compound comprises a polyvalent metal compound.
 11. A masking article as defined in claim 10, wherein the polyvalent metal compound comprises a metal salt.
 12. A masking article as defined in claim 11, wherein the metal salt comprises a soluble salt of aluminum, iron, zirconium, chromium, cobalt, titanium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper, manganese, strontium, yttrium, lanthanum, polyaluminum halide, basic aluminum nitrate, hydrolyzed aluminum, aluminum sulfate, zirconyl salts, titanyl salts, and combinations thereof.
 13. An adhesive masking article for shielding a protected work surface from a coating applied to a surface adjacent the protected work surface, the masking article comprising: (a) a backing layer having first and second opposed major surfaces, and at least one edge; (b) an adhesive on at least a portion of at least one of the first and second backing layer opposed major surfaces; and (c) a polycationic barrier inducing treatment present on at least the edge of the masking article to contact the coating when the coating comes into contact with the edge of the backing layer.
 14. A masking article as defined in claim 13, wherein the polycationic barrier inducing treatment comprises a crosslinked organic polycationic polymer derived from vinyl monomers.
 15. A masking article as defined in claim 13, wherein the polycationic polymer comprises at least one of Polyquaternium-6 and Polyquaternium-37.
 16. A masking article as defined in claim 13, wherein the polycationic polymer comprises at least one of a polyquaternary amine polymer and a polyfunctional protonated primary, secondary, or tertiary amine, or a combination thereof.
 17. A masking article as defined in claim 13, wherein the polycationic polymer comprises at least one of poly(diallyldimethylammonium salt), protonated or quaternized homo- or copolymer of an amine functional acrylic monomer, and protonated polyethylene imine.
 18. A masking article as defined in claim 17, wherein the amine functional acrylic monomer comprises at least one of acrylates, methacrylates, acrylamides, and methacrylamides.
 19. A masking article as defined in claim 17, wherein the acrylic monomer is selected from diallyldimethylammonium salt, methacryloyloxyalkyl trialkyl ammonium salt, acryloyloxyalkyl trialkyl ammonium salt, quaternized dialkylaminoalkylacrylamidine salt, trialkylaminoalkyl acrylate and methacrylate salts, dialkyldiallyl ammonium salts (e.g. dimethyldiallylammonium salts), acrylamidoalkyltrialkyl salts, methacrylamidoalkyltrialkyl salts, and alkyl imidazolinium salts.
 20. A barrier inducing treatment formulation for use in connection with a masking article comprising an organic cationic barrier inducing compound. 